Friday, September 9

We have added another member to our family.  Today we did purchase a goldfish.  The name still is to be determined.  My mom wants swooshy (Arianna can't say it).  So we wait for our 2 1/2 year old to name the fish. The realization of 3 adults from a trip to the pet store with a 2 1/2 year old:
1. Do not let the 2 1/2 year old carry the fish afterwards: Ari looks up at me and says mommy, look...the bag is upside down.  Praise God for the clerk who rubberbanded the top very tightly
2.  Make sure the bag the fish is taken home in is short enough to not drag on the ground while the 2 1/2 year old is carrying it... conversation while getting in the car "oh my, the bag is leaking... give me another bag." My dad "I think we lose about 20 drops of water every mile... how far are from the house."
3.  Do not take a tired 2 1/2 year old to get a fish... While this conversation of the leaky bag is going on, Ari proceeds to arch her back and fight with Grandma because she wants to hold the fish and doesn't want to get in the car...
Nonetheless, the fish and everyone arrived home safely...

Isaac is doing well still today.  He had another 15 gram (1/2 ounce) weight gain last night. When I went to see him this morning he proved to still be a busy boy.  His little hands were up by his face then I saw something moving right under his chin... his foot appeared out of the top of his blanket.  Wow is he limber. David & I went back tonight to see him.  It is true, you can love 2 children with equal amounts of love. I never thought it was possible... but it is!

Thursday, September 8

Not much to report tonight.  We are in a holding pattern again... Isaac did gain weight again today.  If I remember correctly it was a 10 gram weight gain.  So we are on the up and up and up!!! They gave him a good bath today and as I look at his hair it is lighter... sad.  It is more of a dark blonde than a dark brown. Hmmm I guess time will tell.  I think I have heard that babies lose their first head of hair anyway.  RIGHT???? His eyes were opening up a lot.  If I could read morse code I think his eyelids were saying "I love you mommy".

Isaac has now been on the high flow cannula for 2 1/2 days off that C-PAP.  I did speak to the doctor again tonight and he mentioned that we do have about 2 years of seeing specialists after he is discharged from the hospital.  This will be for physical therapy and developemental things.  At least the doctor's office is only 15 minutes away from us.  I think after this stay in the NICU we will be able to handle the drs. visits.

We haven't gone to purchase Arianna's fish yet. Hoping tomorrow sometime.  I have been trying to find clothes to wear for when I return to work on Monday. Since I haven't lost the baby weight and I can't technically wear maternity clothes... ummmm not a fun feeling. I have my 4 week check up tomorrow to make sure I am cleared to return to work....

have a great weekend!

Wednesday, September 7

Another successful weight gain!  Isaac is now weighing 2 lbs 11.7 ounces. He is still on the high flow oxygen as well.  When I arrived to the NICU this morning Isaac was so alert. He was trying to open his eyes and look around.  As I held him this morning face to face I saw how slender his head truly is.  I think that is an Iverson characteristic.  I really like seeing his dark head of hair.  I hope it stays dark. His face is a little scrunchy as it needs to fill out by gaining more weight. It was so good to just see him free from the nose tube, the hat and the chin strap. Still working on getting our camera fixed. Hoping to have new photos for everyone soon.

As for the fish front and Arianna... we will be adding a new member to the family this week.  She has earned her fish.  Nena (grandma) and I set up the fish tank tonight... not realizing it needs 2 to 3 days to filter and work out all the icky stuff before you can get a fish... I think Nena added a few good behavior points while I wasn't here this morning in order to help Arianna.  I keep telling Ari that Nena is one of her greatest advocates and that she better be nice to her all the time!

Tuesday, September 6

Okay everyone, prayers are being answered!  Isaac gained another 5 grams yesterday. Not much, but it is progress in the correct direction.  Today when I arrived to see my son I saw a gorgeous head of dark brown hair, a cute little nose, two little ears.... which meant.... no C-PAP!!! They had put him on high flow oxygen at around 9:30 this morning.  I arrived around 10 and he had good oxygen saturations.  Better than the other day when I held him and they removed his oxygen and he quit breathing.... I think that was Thursday or Friday's post.  Anyway, they said he might not stay on the high flow but they were trying it.  I held him for about 20 minutes before nurse Alex said he should be put back in the isolette.  While I was holding him he had some bradies and desaturations so she thought it was best to return him.  However, when David went back this afternoon he was still on his high flow... So... he still needs to gain weight to improve the strength of his lungs.  I guess once he starts gaining weight a lot of things will change.  I think I have told everyone that though.

They are increasing his food intake to 25 mls every 3 hours still.  Trying to get him to gain weight.  If you know much about breast feeding, they want me now to bring in only hind milk to boost up the calories.  Otherwise they might give him a high caloric formula every other feeding to help increase his weight gain.  They are going for 15 to 20 grams a day.

My parents are back up helping me this week to prepare for me returning to work next Monday.  I hope to be ready physically, mentally and spiritually... oh and hoping to have a house that doesn't need cleaning or any laundry done.... I know the first week will be tiring for me but like I always say to myself "I am Talinda Iverson and I can do anything and overcome anything!"

Oh, I forgot to tell you... Arianna is on her way to earning some fish for her fishtank that Nena and Poppy bought her.  She gets rewarded for good behavior and she needs one more good behavior mark to earn herself some fish!!! However, if she has some bad behavior (pouting, telling someone no, etc) then she has a good behavior mark removed... Come on girl!  Earn your fish!

Monday, September 5

I am posting this Tuesday morning, sorry about that.  Supposedly Isaac had another 15 gram weight gain yesterday.  However, they are still having a hard time with consistency in his weighing.  So the nurse he had yesterday, Alex, was frustrated with it again.  We like her.  She is truly one of his advocates for him progressing.  She even took pictures of him yesterday because she knew we didn't have any without any of his headgear. He might need a red blood cell transfusion too as his count went fro 38 to 32 in the past week.  They are going to wait to see for certain but it is a concern. They are going to x-ray him today to see if the water on his lungs has gone down.

So we are in a holding pattern still, waiting for him to grow in stature! When he grows it will do so much for his little body and his lungs.  Alex also yesterday noticed that he had been swaddled for the past few days and his isolette was colder than she thought it should be.  This would cause his body to have to regulate it's own temperature which cause him to lose weight as well.

If it were only that easy for us adults to lose weight.. I would stand outside, in the dead of winter, with only my undies on just to lose 5 lbs!!!!

Sunday, September 4

David, Arianna and I got together tonight with some dear friends.  I tell you we almost felt normal again, like life was the same as it was before the birth of Isaac...our lives has changed drastically over the past month and a half, wow, time sure can go fast or slow, depending upon what is going on in your life...Somedays drag on and some are as slow as molasses. 

Isaac has had another day of weight gain. Keep up the good work son! He is now 2 lbs and 10 ounces.  Today they took an x-ray of his lungs and found them to be wetter than they want.  They gave him a dose of a diuretic today to have his body rid itself of the excess fluid.  They also started him on an inhaler for preemies to help him progress off of the C-PAP.  They say he really likes it and doens't act like he wants to move forward off of it. Please pray for this inhaler to work.  The doctor said it could take up to a week before they see results.  he is getting his dosage of the inhaler every 12 hours.

When I called to check up on him tonight the nurse was cleaning up his bedding.  She said he had urinated through his diaper.  Way to go Isaac!!! That diuretic is working like a charm. Sorry nurse Jennifer....

I was able to kangaroo care him this afternoon.  Our favorite nurse, Alex, mentioned to me yesterday that it is really good for him to still kangaroo care/hold him.  So many studies have shown the benefits for his weight gain and overall growth and health.  Although I enjoy seeing his little face and talking directly to him, this time isn't about me but getting him stronger and ready to face his amazing life!

Have a great day off tomorrow!

Saturday, September 3

Another gain!!! He now weighs a huge 2 lbs 9.1 ounces!  We are extatic. Now he needs to keep it up up up!  When I arrived this morning the nurse said when she had his head gear removed and was changing it all out that Isaac has a dimple in his chin.  She said it is hard to notice because his chin is so tiny but he has one...

I am going to try to go to church for the first time tomorrow since July 24. Hoping to make it.  David isn't feeling well. He couldn't even go see Isaac today because he has a runny nose and is sneezing.  We are looking forward to having 2 full days together.  David works on Saturdays and he arrived home today later than normal.  We badly need a family day and 2 in a row are even better. 

Have a great Labor Day!